Unit 2-08: Sea of Gray: Seniors and Gambling

Purpose:
In mid-morning, a person walks into a casino, scans the room, and is impressed by the number of seniors sitting at the machines, some alone and some talking with others.  It can be a social gathering, a place to meet, chat, and break the loneliness and boredom found at home.  One could assume from the scene that seniors have gambling problems because, after all, that is the demographic that one sees in the casino.

In this workshop, we will explore senior gambling, why seniors gamble, and the question of whether or not seniors have a higher prevalence rate than other age groups. Using real world examples, we will consider who the seniors are that visit casinos, why they are there, and their attitudes about gambling.

During the workshop, we will also discuss some of the ways that casinos market to seniors, look at any potential health benefits and/or risks associated with senior gambling, and consider possible treatment options.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, the participant will be able to:

• Define “activity theory;”
• Understand two extrinsic and five intrinsic motivations to gamble for senior adults;
• Describe five reasons why senior adults might enjoy gambling as a recreational activity; and
• Name seven ways gambling can have a negative impact on a senior gambler.